Blogs

rabble blogs are the personal pages of some of Canada's most insightful progressive activists and commentators. All opinions belong to the writer; however, writers are expected to adhere to our guidelines. We welcome new bloggers -- contact us for details.
Blog - Brad Hornick's blog February 27
Photo: Senate Democrats/Flickr
Why I support a Green New Deal, though it's just the start of what's needed
Sandra Lindberg | Green New Deal critics threaten because they are worried. But many people, especially those under 30, aren't afraid of the word "socialism" any longer.
Blog - Brad Hornick's blog February 27
Participants in Sunrise Movement protest in Washington. Photo: Becker1999/Flickr
A call to critically support the Green New Deal
Brad Hornick | The challenge is an immense one. Emergency response to a crisis means there is no longer any time for gradual, incremental or "non-disruptive" reductions in emissions.
Blog - The Activist Toolkit Blog February 27
Photo Credit: Flickr, sylvar https://www.flickr.com/photos/sylvar/3054077849
Tools to dig into the underbelly of Yellow Vests Canada
Maya Bhullar | We know the danger that organizing using hate poses. We need to organize against it. Here are some groups, both new coalitions and old hats, who are currently active in the fight against racism.
Blog - Alberta Diary February 27
Jeff Callaway and Jason Kenney back in the day when they were running for the leadership of the UCP (Photo: United Conservative Party).
Campaign manager for former UCP leadership hopeful is fined, fired, vows fight
David J. Climenhaga | The manager of Jeff Callaway's 2017 campaign to lead the United Conservative Party was slapped with $15,000 in fines yesterday by Alberta's Election Commissioner for "obstruction of an investigation."
Blog - David Suzuki February 27
Could renewable energy be a force for decolonization?
David Suzuki | If we continue to elevate only voices of those who have traditionally held power, we won’t likely discover meaningful solutions to the problems we collectively face.
Blog - Raluca Bejan February 27
Gillette packaging. Photo: Terry Donaghe/Flickr
Capitalism, revisited: Gillette and Canada Goose find new markets in social justice
Raluca Bejan | Corporations have always found ways to capitalize on the political climate. Now we're seeing Gillette and Canada Goose commodifying social justice to find new markets.
Blog - Alberta Diary February 26
Miranda Rosin, the UCP Candidate in Banff-Kannaniskis. (Photo: Screenshot of UCP video).
Has a UCP candidate voiced what her party really thinks about two-tier health care?
David J. Climenhaga | "We need to look at a two-tiered system, so that we can get those who have worked hard for their money to get out of the system if they would like to," says UCP candidate Miranda Rosin.
Blog - Council of Canadians' blog February 25
Image: U.S. Department of State/Flickr
New NAFTA faces ratification deadlock
Sujata Dey | As ratification processes clash, the Canadian government should not rubber-stamp this deal or accelerate it through Parliament. It should take the opportunity to push for progressive changes.
Blog - Cathy Crowe's blog February 25
Crowded conditions in a Toronto respite centre that shelters 200 people.
Toronto denies justice and human rights in homelessness crisis
Cathy Crowe | A UN report defends access to legal advocacy in the right to housing. Meanwhile, Toronto denied its homelessness crisis emergency status, choosing instead to spare no cost to fix potholes.
Blog - Policyfix February 25
How would a Canadian Green New Deal work?
Hannah Muhajarine | The idea of a Green New Deal is championed by grassroots movements on both sides of the Canada/U.S. border. Much of the policy framework has already been outlined. All we need is political will.
Blog - Brent Patterson February 25
Tar sands in Alberta. Image: Extinction Rebellion Canada/Facebook
Extinction Rebellion movement evolves as international week of action approaches
Brent Patterson | The Extinction Rebellion movement was launched 18 weeks ago, and now counts over 200 outposts around the world. As chapters gear up for a global week of direct action, how is the movement faring?
Blog - The Views Expressed February 25
Image: PowerShift Canada/Facebook
In solidarity and love: reflections on PowerShift
Raagini Appadurai | "Today, I am reminded that 'if you still got breath, it's your time.' And we're coming." Reflections on the youth climate justice movement from a PowerShift convergence participant.
Blog - Alberta Diary February 25
New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh on a recent visit to Edmonton. Photo: David J. Climenhaga.
Stakes are high for Jagmeet Singh, whether he wins Burnaby South or not
David J. Climenhaga | Count on it, the stars in the NDP firmament are moving into alignment for someone. But even if he wins tonight, it may not be Singh.
Blog - Brent Patterson February 25
Image: gnbca/Flickr
Comment period opens for mine that would destroy two brooks in New Brunswick
Brent Patterson | March 18 is the deadline to comment on Bird Brook and Napadogan Brook becoming "tailings impoundment areas" for mine waste from the proposed Northcliff Resources Ltd Sisson mine.
Blog - Brent Patterson February 24
Ombudsperson could be a new tool for activists to help advance mining justice
Brent Patterson | The Trudeau government has yet to deliver on its January 2018 announcement to establish a Canadian Ombudsperson for the Responsible Enterprise, but news could be coming soon.
Blog - Alberta Diary February 23
NEB ruling on Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion leaves everyone deep in their message boxes
David J. Climenhaga | Common sense suggests the NEB recommendation on the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion is a small but significant step toward its completion. Don't expect any agreement on that.
Blog - Brent Patterson February 23
Indigenous land defender killed in Mexico days before referendum on controversial gas pipeline
Brent Patterson | Samir Flores Soberanes opposed a gas pipeline and thermoelectric plant that could contaminate the water on his territory. Now he is dead.
Blog - Council of Canadians' blog February 22
Fight to stop Trans Mountain continues as feds approve their own pipeline
Bronwen Tucker | The National Energy Board has approved the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. Sign here to remind Justin Trudeau we won't let him build this pipeline.
Blog - Alberta Diary February 22
Restaurant interior. Photo: Jonas de Carvalho/Wikimedia Commons
Restaurant lobby is serving baloney with claims of hard times for Alberta restaurants
David J. Climenhaga | Notwithstanding some higher costs, based on the facts it seems likely times for Alberta restaurateurs have never been better.
Blog - Alberta Diary February 22
A typical red brick rural hospital in Alberta, this one in the town of Black Diamond (Photo: Royalbroil/Wikimedia Commons).
You can't slash Alberta Health Services' efficient management without hurting front-line care
David J. Climenhaga | Health-care management at Alberta Health Services is extremely lean by Canadian standards. If you cut it, as UCP Leader Jason Kenney proposes, front-line care will get worse.
Blog - Independent Jewish Voices Canada February 22
Sydney Nestel at a protest of the UJA-Toronto Walk with Israel, May 27, 2018. Photo: Raghd Hamzeh.
Trudeau seriously out of step with Canadian attitudes towards Israel's violations of Palestinian human rights
Sheryl Nestel | A critique of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's uncritical support of Israeli policies -- a stance at odds with that of many Canadians, including Jewish-Canadians.
Blog - Alberta Diary February 21
Photo: Andrew Scheer/Flickr
Whose truck is Andrew Scheer riding in?
David J. Climenhaga | Andrew Scheer's tweeted observation about Louis Riel, while unique, was paradoxically not unusual.
Blog - Pulpit and Politics February 21
Paul Dewar in 2019. Photo: Phillip Jeffrey/Flickr
Paul Dewar's motto was 'faith is political'
Dennis Gruending | Former Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar, who died of cancer in February 2019, was known to say that all religious faith is political.
Blog - Alberta Diary February 21
UCP Leader Jason Kenney, assiduously signing stuff (Photo: Twitter).
Kenney's 'Public Health Guarantee' not worth much, but may be good enough for many voters
David J. Climenhaga | If Alberta elects a UCP government, we'll likely have to learn that lesson of what's wrong with private health-care delivery all over again, and every day will be Groundhog Day.
Blog - Brent Patterson February 21
Curtailing corporate impunity would defend human rights
Brent Patterson | The development of a Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights will be discussed by the United Nations in October.
Blog - The Views Expressed February 20
Photo: Rachel Docherty/Flickr
Capitalism worst possible economic system for a planet ravaged by climate change
Ed Finn | Corporate barbarism has intensified on a colossal scale, to the point of endangering the very sustainability of human life on the planet. The scourges of poverty and inequality run even more rampant.
Blog - David Suzuki February 20
Image: Phil Fiddyment/Flickr
You may not like insects, but you need them
David Suzuki | When the bottom of the food chain is endangered, so too is everything up the chain -- including people. Insect declines threaten birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, and plants.
Blog - Alberta Diary February 19
Centre Block, Parliament Hill. Photo: Thomas Dimson/Flickr
Liberals take remedial measures to recover their fortunes ahead of federal election
David J. Climenhaga | As was said of the Watergate scandal, the cover-up is usually worse than the crime. Expect revelations soon.
Blog - The Views Expressed February 18
Canada needs an Ilhan Omar
Shahroze Khan | If Canada is going to be a progressive leader at the international level, we need stronger and bolder leadership on Palestine. Canada needs an Ilhan Omar -- a prominent progressive voice on Palestine.
Blog - Alberta Diary February 18
Jason Kenney in 2013. Photo: michael_swan/Flickr
'Free votes' on 'matters of conscience' could be way for Jason Kenney to throttle reproductive rights
David J. Climenhaga | Encouraging "free votes" may seem odd for a leader who quick-marched his MLAs out of the legislature every time there was a vote on protest-free bubble zones around abortion clinics. But maybe not.

Pages